How many people did you invite to church when you converted

[magnusbar]

As I future convert, I thought it would be interesting to ask the Catholic converts on this forum how many friends/family members you invited to the mass where you were recieved into the church?
An open arrangement invite on Facebook is probably too much, but I am sure there are people as well who convert without anyone from outside the Catholic church to support them.

Sorry if this is the wrong forum!

 

[USMC_Convert]

Just my family…well immediate family, so, 4…actually I invited more but being that I was in VA and everyone else was in multiple different states only 4 showed…

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Me, zero. I converted privately in college.
My wife. Probably 8 or so. It was at the easter vigil.

 

[Casilda]

I married a Protestant who I journeyed with through various denominations (and one non-denomination) and Orthodoxy until he found his way to the Catholic church. We had about 2 dozen friends we met on our journey. We invited them all. Only three couples remain our friends. Two are self-exiled Catholics. We’re those who were raised in the pre-Vatican Latin Mass era, whose parents left and sent us wandering. Some of us have made it back. I made it to an Eastern Catholic church.

 

[Catholic1954]

My husband converted many years ago, but since his family is very anti-Catholic and live half way across the country, he didn’t invite any of them. Most of my family showed up!

 

[Anglewannabe]

I am a craddle Catholic, so I can’t answer your question from experience. However, I don’t think the number of people invited is really relevant. It is not a competition to have the most attendants.

IMO, the people that should be invited are first and foremost, the ones that supported your journey and help you to find the faith. Then it would be nice to invite people who are curious as to why you are becoming Catholic. But again, the number could vary. If you attended a bible study, inviting everyone in the bible study would be appropriate and thus there would be more invites. But if you did not in any group activities, then there are less invites and that is OK as well

The last thing I would do is invite someone who has a grudge against the church. Why ruin your special day.

Angie

 

[magnusbar]

I am a craddle Catholic, so I can’t answer your question from experience. However, I don’t think the number of people invited is really relevant. It is not a competition to have the most attendants.

IMO, the people that should be invited are first and foremost, the ones that supported your journey and help you to find the faith. Then it would be nice to invite people who are curious as to why you are becoming Catholic. But again, the number could vary. If you attended a bible study, inviting everyone in the bible study would be appropriate and thus there would be more invites. But if you did not in any group activities, then there are less invites and that is OK as well

The last thing I would do is invite someone who has a grudge against the church. Why ruin your special day.

Angie

Yes, I agree. I assume my parents will come, and hopefully my friends at the young adults-group in my parish.

I just want to have somthing small, as I had my confirmation in a protestant church five years ago. I want to send the message that I am simply “changing” church, it’s really not that dramatic. A big and important next step for me, yes, but I don’t want people who came then to think that the celebration was for nothing.

Less than two weeks to go now :dancing:

 

[Anglewannabe]

Yes, I agree. I assume my parents will come, and hopefully my friends at the young adults-group in my parish.

I just want to have somthing small, as I had my confirmation in a protestant church five years ago. I want to send the message that I am simply “changing” church, it’s really not that dramatic. A big and important next step for me, yes, but I don’t want people who came then to think that the celebration was for nothing.

Less than two weeks to go now :dancing:

Disagree, This is dramatic. It is the best thing you could do. Welcome home

 

[rcwitness]

Yes, I agree. I assume my parents will come, and hopefully my friends at the young adults-group in my parish.

I just want to have somthing small, as I had my confirmation in a protestant church five years ago. I want to send the message that I am simply “changing” church, it’s really not that dramatic. A big and important next step for me, yes, but I don’t want people who came then to think that the celebration was for nothing.

Less than two weeks to go now :dancing:

I invited immediate family and close friends, and allowed my mother to extend invitations too.

I think I know what you mean by “not that dramatic”. I am guessing that you already have understood and accepted so much Catholic faith, even within your past denominations, that this is not like coming from a non-Christian religion.

However, there is definitely a dramatic change. The laying on of hands by valid Catholic bishops (or priests), has great significance. It brings to your soul a life of Christ that can never be undone.

It brings challenges, privileges, responsibilities, graces, etc. You will be entering a battlefield in which temptations and trials will come! And passive behavior will cause damage. But active love and devotion will bring Jesus into your world.

No matter who comes to your service, focus on Him.

 

[magnusbar]

I invited immediate family and close friends, and allowed my mother to extend invitations too.

I think I know what you mean by “not that dramatic”. I am guessing that you already have understood and accepted so much Catholic faith, even within your past denominations, that this is not like coming from a non-Christian religion.

However, there is definitely a dramatic change. The laying on of hands by valid Catholic bishops (or priests), has great significance. It brings to your soul a life of Christ that can never be undone.

It brings challenges, privileges, responsibilities, graces, etc. You will be entering a battlefield in which temptations and trials will come! And passive behavior will cause damage. But active love and devotion will bring Jesus into your world.

No matter who comes to your service, focus on Him.

Of course it is dramatic, I wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t convinced the Church teaches the truth. This conversion means everything to me, preparation for my day has been #1 priority the whole year.

It’s simply about the message I want to send to my non-religious friends and family. I am not changing faith, only church. I still believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour (that IS the most important message that both churches teaches). On many issues, however, I have disagreed with the Norwegian Lutheran Church for a while now (i.e. eucharist, same-sex-marriage, female priests, members vote on the liturgy in “elections” *), and that’s what started my exploring of the Church.

But I feel I have been a praticing catholic for a year now, and my family and friends sees me as one. The only thing that remains is the Confiramtion. Now I will be a Catholic on paper too.*